THE SCUTTLEBUTT

Jan. 2011 U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Scuttlebutt Flotilla 12-8, 7th District Charleston, South Carolina Vol. Vol.37, 35,No. No.1-January 3-March 2009 2011
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Flotilla Web Site: http://www.uscgauxcharleston.org

Commanders Corner
Alan Miles, FC 12-8
Happy New Year, everyone! As we set sail into a new year, let me thank the staff officers who have volunteered to lead the flotilla programs in 2011. It is through your time and efforts that the various programs will be successful. This year we will have many challenges and opportunities. As in the past, the flotilla meetings will be held on the second Wednesday each month. There will be some slight changes to the meeting formats. On the even numbered months (such as 02, 04, etc), we will have fellowship after the meeting with food and beverage. On the odd numbered months (such as 01, 03, etc), we will have guest speakers providing informative presentations or training during the meetings. We will still serve coffee and cookies at every meeting as long as the coffee mess is self supported by your donations. During the next few cold months, the harbor patrols and vessel examinations will diminish. However, this is the best time to train and fine tune our programs to guarantee success. Members are asked to provide support when they are called upon. There are positions open in every area of the flotilla. I am actively looking for
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Vice Commander
Paul Thomas, VFC 12-8
I wish everyone a Happy New Year and hope everyone had a Merry Christmas. As I start my in my new position as Vice I would like to thank the flotilla for the opportunit y to serve Inside them. While not new to the FC ............. 1 military, I am still learning about the VFC .......... 1 Coast Guard Aux and any words of CM ............ 4 wisdom will be appreciated. I look CS ............. 4 forward to this year and the work the FN ............. 5 flotilla will be doing to help keep the HR ............ 5 waterways in and around Charleston IS............... 2 safe. There will be staff meeting on MA ............ 3 10 January at 1900. The meeting MS ............ 4 will be at the Brass Buckle. I look NS ............. 3 forward to working with the staff MT ............ 2 OP ............. 5 and the great things this flotilla will PA ............. 7 do in 2011. PB ............. 2 Paul V. Thomas, VFC PE ............. 3 In loving memory of Staff Officer SR ............. 5 Myrtle. She was never on the ros- VE ............. 4 ter but was a faithful worker at Citadel...3 many a Public Affairs function. She Calendar ... 8 was always dressed in her Interna- Trivia ........ 6 tional Orange PFD and promoting Photos ....... 7 boating safety to the children. Myrtle has gone to K-9 heaven where she is probably still trying to make the angels wear their PFDs on the water.
PV ............ 3

Confidentiality Notice: Telephone numbers and addresses of members are protected by the Privacy Act of 1974. As a matter of policy, rosters of names, addresses and telephone numbers shall not be made available to the general public or any outside organization. Privacy of all rosters shall be safeguarded and the page clearly labeled. The publication of these rosters, addresses, and telephone numbers on any computer on-line service including the Internet is prohibited by the Privacy Act of 1974. The Auxiliary is guided by the current equal opportunities policies of the Commandant of the Coast Guard. No Person shall be subject to

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Member Training
Bob Mathewes, SO-MT

Information Services
Bob Mathewes, FSO-IS

new year is upon us and, as the Roman deity for which the month is named, we look forward and back. Last year we offered all the available workshops, and a long AUXNAV course. We had good response on the lone mandatory workshop and only fair participation in the others. This year I hope to see us offer all the workshops and have better participation. At this point I dont know which, if any, of them will be required. It is still planned to offer the newly revised AUXCOM course early in the year. This will be a good adjunct to the Telecommunications PQS that Dean Creed taught in late 2009. It is also one of the three core courses in the new AUXOP Program. I shouldnt have to remind you that the sole reason for our existence is to be a force multiplier for the Coast Guard. In order to perform that task we need to maintain a level of training that makes us useful. Going to meetings once a month doesnt aid the Coast Guard mission in any way. Station Charleston will be needing radio watch standers. The Marine Environmental Response team needs Assistant Pollution Investigators. We always need qualified crew and coxswains. All these require training to achieve and activity to maintain a level of competency that makes you useful. This is truly an organization that gives you a return on your investment. If you put nothing in you get nothing back. If you get the training to qualify you to work alongside the men and women of the Gold Side you will reap a reward of satisfaction you wont believe. Lets train up to a higher level this year. Bob Mathewes, SO-MT

ome people are going to find themselves REYR in one or more of their qualifications due to not having completed enough hours or vessel exams or dealer visits. This should not come as a surprise as we had a spread sheet that was updated weekly and posted on the flotilla web site. The spread sheet showed everyones status with respect to completion of the requirements to maintain qualifications. I fear that part of the problem may have been failure to report activity. No matter how much you do it counts for nothing if it isnt reported. Dont rely on someone else to report your hours. Check behind them. The new on-line 7029 form is really great. If you havent used it you should. There are still errors being made but I am usually able to rectify them without a phone call. The breakdown on the second page makes allocation of hours and dollars easier. Remember that only those holding elected or appointed office should use column 99A but for those people all duties associated with the office (including meetings) goes in that column. If you have a question, Ill be glad to try and answer it. Bob Mathewes. FSO-IS

Publications
Bob Mathewes, FSO-PB
e came close but didnt quite manage to have input from all the 2011 staff members. I hope we can reach 100% in February. Bob Mathewes, FSO-PB

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Citadel Detachment
Cadet Cpl. Singletary
efore Detachment members went on Christmas Furlough they took part in one of the most eventful weekends of the semester. That weekend included The Detachment taking the ABS course alongside Flotilla 12-8 members. Once this training was completed, a fortunate group of cadets were qualified to go on a patrol that evening. This was one of the first hands-on experiences of the year. There are big plans in the works to have many more of these type training exercises on The Detachments calendar. Basic Introduction to The Coast Guard course is still making headway. Once again The Detachment has had the privilege of having Citadel Graduate LTJG Doria, PhD, USCGR come to a meeting to share his knowledge. This time LTJG Doria brought with him LTJG Siegling, ENS Shepard, and PS1 Ely. They offered a panel -like question and answer session that allowed for much knowledge to be gained. A great deal was learned from the varied experience of the Coast Guardsmen. As the first semester at The Citadel came to a close, preparations were being made for an exciting upcoming new year. This month, a few of The Detachment members will be attending the USCG AUX Division Change of Watch ceremony in Myrtle Beach. Cadet Corporal Singletary

Public Education
Chuck Chirila

n December 4th the About Boating Safely Course, better known as ABS, was presented by Bill Riley and myself to five new Citadel Cadets and three new Flotilla 12-8 members. Cadets Cardwell, Sickel, Singletary, Stansell, and Wycoff along with 12-8 Aux members, James Byrd, Laura Meehan, and William Meehan, successfully passed the course after seven hours of instruction. James Byrd also successfully passed the BS&S exam. Bravo Zulu! I would like to thank all instructors who assisted me with Public Education presentations this last year. I certainly learned a lot from you all. I hope you all had a blessed Merry Christmas and will have a healthy and prosperous New Year! Safe Boating & Semper Paratus ! Chuck Chirila, outgoing FSO-PE

Materials
Chuck Chirila, FSO-MA

F P

or those who dont know, I have assumed the duties of FSO-MA for 2011. Please bear with me as I learn this position. As the former FSO-MA has requested, please get your orders in early for the coming years activities. Seasons Greetings to all. Chuck Chirila, FSO-MA

Partner Visitor
Rick Miller, FSO-PV
aul Thomas has qualified as a PV and will expand our cover to the North Area. Rick Miller, FSO-PV

Navigational Services
Joe Fleming, FSO-NS
No report received.

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Communications
Dick Clarke, FSO-CM
e need to commend Dean Creed for the incredible job he did last year in this slot. Thanks Dean. I'd like to encourage everyone to consider converting their vehicle to a mobile radio facility. Its very easy and costs around $125 for a decent radio and antenna....And we have the expertise in the flotilla to help you install it. Then you can not only keep abreast of marine radio traffic in our AO, but you become a very valuable asset to the Coast Guard. We will be offering the Auxiliary Telecommunications Operator Personal Qualification Standard (TCO PQS) course in March which will not only qualify you as an Auxiliary Radio Facility operator but will get you up to speed on all the latest communications theory and technique. You can contact me at clarkerrc@att.net or 843-881-3915 or 843-8604878 Dick Clarke, FSO-CM

Communication Services

John Sikes, FSO-CS

e hope that members and guests are taking advantage of the flotillas web site. Theres a lot of information on the site including a condensed AUXINFO listing for all our members that lets them keep track of their hours submitted. Approaching the end of 2010 we had quite a few members listed as REYR in many areas, meaning that as the new year came upon us they were in jeopardy of losing valuable qualifications. Hopefully most of those were taken care of. We encourage all members to spend some time browsing around the web site. If its not already bookmarked or saved in your lists of Favorites, you might want to do so to make it easier to get to. We know it s difficu lt to t ype in www.uscgauxcharleston.org each time you want to go there. As weve asked in the past, please let us know if you see problems on the site, or if you know of something that you or others may want to see on the site. John Sikes, FSO-CS

Vessel Examinations
Paul Berka, FSO-VE

Marine Safety
Bob Orenstein, FSO-MS

ongratulations to Dwaine Harris on passing his "Vessel Examiner Exam" and to Paul Thomas for completing all his requirement to become a Vessel Examiner. Going into 2011 the flotilla will have fourteen VE's. Only two VE's did not make the required number of vessel examinations in 2010 to maintain their certifications. Thanks to Joe Fleming (210) the flotilla competed 323 vessel examinations in 2010. Paul Berka, FSO-VE

ue to the holidays, there has been no planning from MER. As soon as I have something from the Gold Side I will notify everyone either in the Scuttlebutt or by Flash. Bob Orenstein, FSO-MS Have you done your 7029 for December? If not, why not?

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Operations
Joe Fleming, FSO-OP
ecember was a busy month with Operations on the water and land. Charlestons annual Parade of Boats in Charleston harbor put three of our OPFACs to work, along with two from 12-6 and one from 12 -12. This year, for the first time, Richard Daniel on 8419 and I in 21545 flew a Coast Guard flag, as both our vessels carried two armed CG Boarding Team members as part of our crew. CG command wanted to cover more of the field with LE teams on our vessels, and to get them more familiar with our operations. The parade went smoothly with thirty-one boats participating. On the evening of Dec.3rd a Christmas parade decorating party showed up at my house to help fabricate and decorate OPFAC 21545 for the Hanahan Christmas parade. Thanks to Richard Daniel, Paul Berka, Barbara Thibodeaux, and Kelly Duncan, 21545 was ready for the parade the next morning. Members of 12-8 along with Station Charleston trailered a CG 25 safe boat followed by our 21 flotilla boat for all to see. Thanks to Barbara Thibodeaux and Alan Miles, in our boat, l along with Bob Mathewes and Agnes Wright in the CG boat, everyone in Hanahan had a piece of candy eat. Dec.19th, Barbara Thibodeaux, Tom Jerrusi and I showed off our decorated Flotilla boat in the Folly Beach Christmas parade. We had a great time. In October I received an e-mail from a member of the U.S. Coast Guard Research & Development Center out of New London, CT asking if we could assist them with testing and training of a radioactive detector to be used by the Coast Guard

LE teams, when boarding vessels coming into our country. Richard Daniel and Bob Lovinger were happy to help with providing two vessels to hide radioactive sources on board for members of the CGC Gallatin and FLETC LE boarding teams to find using these new detection devices. Richard and Bob spent three days helping with the training. Being able to help the Coast Guard with tasks like this is a great learning experience Joe Fleming, FSO-OP

Finance
Frank Leister, FSO-FN

t our January meeting, I will give a complete report on our 2010 budget and our financial status. We spent some funds this year but we did it on the right things to the general benefit of the flotilla. The new staff officers should have their budget requests for 2011 ready before the January staff meeting on the 10th. Before that meeting I will e-mail each FSO the nearly complete 2010 budget. There are always a few items from one year that are paid into the next one. That should assist the FSOs in determining what they need for 2011. A belated Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from the financial Scrooge. Frank Leister, FSO-FN

Secretary Records
Pam Bray, FSO-SR

here having been no business meeting in November, there are no minutes to report. I hope everyone enjoyed the Change of Watch. Pam Bray, FSO-SR

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assistant members to work in Vessel Examinations, Dealer Visitation, Member Training, Public Education, Public affairs & Public Info Booths & Parades, Operations, Communication Services, Human Resources, Materials, and Marine Safety. There are also various committees that will need your support for shorter term periods. If you are interested in these programs please let me know so I can set up your training. We will be offering Crew, Coxswain, VE, and Communications Classes early in the year. Crew and Coxswain training classes are being set up this spring by Division. We also need more Instructors to teach our courses. Instructors need to learn and qualify how to teach. The various subjects are provided to the instructors by the USCG Auxiliary. I am happy to announce the establishment of a Flotilla Commanders Advisory Council, (Flotac), in 12-8, comprised of former Flotilla Commanders. This will also include personnel that served as a Flotilla Commanders in other units. Your experiences and knowledge are needed to help advance the agenda of 12-8 and help steer and guide us into the future. If you have been a FC in the past, then please send me an email. In closing, its going to be a great year. With 100 plus members we can accomplish much and save many lives through prevention, education, awareness and operations. If youre not planning on being active then please immediately send me a completed form 7035 early so I can help you disenroll from the membership. If you plan on staying in Flotilla 12-8 you need to be performing a service and be active. To reference back to the sailing jargon, its impossible to make headway with an anchor out. Dont be that anchor! Instead be the wind that carries us along on our journey. Lets make this a Great Year, Together Alan J.P. Miles, FC

Human Resources
Paul Thomas, FSO-HR
hat a great year for recruiting. The membership deserves a pat on the back, thanks for making my job easy. We currently have three applications awaiting approval at District and I have sent out three applications to potential new members in December. I would like to ask the membership for help, I need an assistant or I need someone to take my HR position. If anyone is interested, please call me at 810-9973. Paul V. Thomas, FSO - HR

Nautical Trivia
Last month you were asked to provide the location of a 600lb. bronze bell, cast by the E.A. Williams Bell Founders of Jersey City, NJ. that had been placed on a sea buoy at the entrance to Charleston Harbor in 1911. It sank in a storm shortly thereafter. In 1987 it was recovered by the Coast Guard. I thought this was an easy one but it produced only six correct answers. My thanks to Reggie Hollar of Flotilla 12-10 for coming up with the question. Those providing the answer that the bell now resides at the Ponce De Leon Inlet Lighthouse Museum in Florida were Chuck Chirila, Randy Glas, Dick McLaren, Alan Miles, John Sikes and Agnes Wright. All the answers came from 12-8 members this month We always say that once a rope is taken into a vessel it becomes a line. There are exceptions. There can be a bell rope, foot rope, bolt rope or a tiller rope. What is a Guest Rope?

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Public Affairs
Barbara Thibodeaux,
ts hard to believe we are already at the beginning of another year! We have had the opportunity to be involved in so many events this year and next year is already looking busy. I hope more members will be involved in events the coming year! Last month we were involved in parades. Thank you for those that helped decorate our flotilla boat and those involved in the parades! We participated in the Hanahan Parade and the Folly Beach Parade. We were very warmly welcomed at both parades by coordinators and viewers. I can't tell you how many times people thanked us "for all we do," It was very heart warming. We had facilities on the water and involved in the parade of boats later on the same day as the Hanahan Parade. We got two starts on the Folly Beach Parade. We were lined up on the causeway putting our decorations on the boat when the parade cancelled and reForedeck of 25600 ingot Hanahan Christmas scheduled. We participated in it on 17 DeParade. cember, and I've got to say it was one of the best parades I've ever seen. Though short in distance it made up for it in the originality of all the entries. If you've never viewed it, you should put it on your list for the coming year! I just want to take the opportunity to say Thank you to all our members who have graciously given their time and talents in the furtherance of our goals and missions as 12-8! Words cannot express the appreciation I have for your assistance and talents! I'll be counting on you in the new year! Nobody does it like 12-8! Barbara Thibodeaux, FSO-PA

Detachment members await embarkation on 41.

Bob Lovinger and Frank Leister having a cold ride on the Duck

A discussion about the naming of the Duck

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January 2011
SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT

1
New Years Day

2 9 16 23 30

3 10
Staff Officer Meeting 1900

4
New Moon

5 12
Flotilla Meeting 1900

6 13 20 27

7 14 21 28

8 15 22 29

11 18 25

17 24 31

19
Full Moon

26

Flotilla Officers
Flotilla Commander Alan Miles bigcid@comcast.net Finance Frank Leister fcl@lwinslow.com Flotilla Vice Commander Paul Thomas paul.thomas@sba.gov Human Resources Paul Thomas paul.thomas@sba.gov Communications Dick Clarke clarkerrc@att.net Information Services Bob Mathewes rhmathewes@comcast.net Navigational Services Joe Fleming joeflemingjr@comcast.net Public Education Vacant Communication Systems John Sikes jsikes@netrockets.com Materials Chuck Chirila cchirila@sc.rr.com Operations Joe Fleming joeflemingjr@comcast.net RBS Visitor Rick Miller rick.mllr@gmail.com IPFC Joe Fleming joeflemingjr@comcast.net

Marine Safety Member Training Bob Orenstein Bob Mathewes bandjorenstein@bellsouth.net rhmathewes@comcast.net Public Affairs Publications Barbara Thibodeaux Bob Mathewes barbara.thibodeaux@gmail.com rhmathewes@comcast.net Secretary Records Pamela Bray pamelagbray@gmail.com

Vessel Examination Paul Berka phberka@comcast.net